Thursday, October 4, 2012

Bouchercon Bound!

Bouchercon begins today! What is Bouchercon, you ask? It's the world mystery conference and this year it's being held in Cleveland, Ohio with the theme "Crime Fiction Rocks!"

Neil Plakcy, Rosemary Harris, me, Hank Phillippi Ryan

I forgot to take my camera last year, but here's a photo, with some of my wonderful writer friends, from Bouchercon 2009 (Indianapolis, IN) which was a fabulous, amazing, and awesome weekend. Can you tell I enjoyed myself? LOL At that conference, my STATE OF THE ONION won both the Barry and Anthony Awards for Best Paperback Original. What an honor. I couldn't believe it. I'm still flying high!

Today begins Bouchercon 2012 and I'll be on the panel "Cooking up a Mystery" alongside Connie Archer and Kathleen George with my friend Molly MacRae as moderator. If you'll be there, we're on at 2:45PM. Judging from the emails flying back and forth, this promises to be a fun group!

I love Bouchercon because it gives me a chance to catch up with friends I haven't seen in a while--author friends, reader friends--and it gives me a chance to meet new friends as well. There are lots of great events going on through Sunday, but the one where I'll be holding my breath will be at the Anthony Awards on Saturday night.

Buffalo West Wing, the fourth in my White House Chef series, has been nominated in the Best Paperback Original category. Woo-hoo!!! I am so excited, so nervous. Thrilled beyond description!

I'm always happy to be at Bouchercon, but this nomination makes it even more exciting!

Let me know if you'll be there (I'll be checking in online, for sure) so I can keep a look out for you!